New Approach South Dakota

08/24/2026

Kittrick Jeffries, chairman of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota and owner of Puffy’s Dispensary in Rapid City, said some businesses are taking the initiative.

“A lot of our establishments within our association are currently going through the DEA inspection process to become licensed under the DEA,” Jeffries said.

“At the state level, we probably have more questions than answers.” By Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight A federal change in medical ma*****na’s legal classification should help South Dakota’s medical cannabis industry claim business tax deductions and gain access to banking, official...

08/20/2026

Monday's first MMOC meeting for the year went very well. The DOH has been working hard on bringing digital cards to patients, updating procedures, and working with the licensed business owners to create better processes for every patient. The 2nd meeting is not yet scheduled, but we anticipate that being late fall.

"Brunner, the program’s administrator, said on Monday that her office has changed some of its processes for inspecting licensed ma*****na businesses to work more cooperatively with them.
She said the department is also working on potential changes to administrative rules that businesses have sought and has developed a new website.
The tone of the meeting was much more business-like than the final one of 2025, when tension flared between legislators, department leader Melissa Magstadt and cannabis industry representatives."

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota’s medical cannabis program saw a large jump in registered users during the past year. And next summer, the South Dakota Department of Health plans to …

08/08/2026

While everyone is focused on rescheduling there is a fight happening that is not getting enough attention. CBD access is at risk of being ripped away permanently and there are some incredible people fighting in DC to ensure that doesn’t happen.

One of this is Paige Figi. I hope everyone who follows NASD knows her name and knows Charlotte’s story. Charlotte was an angel who changed hearts and minds about the power of plant medicine, her Momma Paige an inspiration and a warrior. I’m so proud to watch her fight for every child and adult across this country who needs access to CBD if you are able to, join them in making calls to save CBD from being ripped out of the hands of children. Call your representatives and Senators to tell them to keep CBD available to all.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/08/senate-government-funding-01030015?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwdGRjcATkYSpwZG9mBWZkaWQWUMHXX78lvFXkGrwA9UAGDKiCkf-uTGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7tz9CXQ_BoabW91BbHrqlgofA73xrqEzhxWMfdX-zHJN5XShPobADv7eeYLg_aem_KQjubt4g1GrU2t-HuecCRg

07/24/2026

This week has been history-making for SD as the DEA Inspections started for Dispensaries all over the state. Here's what we know.
1. This process has been friendly and informative for Dispensary Owners.
2. There have been no changes made to patients' ability to have access.
3. No changes have been made to Dispensary Operations
4. Many who have been inspected reflect that our earlier statement on this being a pretty seamless process was accurate. SD's rules, regulations, and IM26 gave a heavy blanket of regulation to Operators that required Compliance at a higher level than many other states across the Nation.
There will be updates coming as this process unfolds; however, as of now, all of it is preliminary and positive.

We wanted to wait until today to give accurate information based on real experiences happening within this process. When we know updates, we will share them with you all.

Have a good weekend and stay cool + hydrated. The heat wave starting tomorrow is dangerous for everyone. Please remember to make lots of shade and fresh water available for your pups when you are outside and don't walk them on the concrete, as it will burn their toe beans.

Mel

07/21/2026

A combination of the ma*****na components THC and CBD leads to a significant and sustained reduction in agitation in the vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease of other forms of dementia, according to a new federally funded study.

The placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involved a cannabis preparation called T2:C100 that contained 2mg THC and 100mg CBD, and included 120 people with dementia who were eligible to receive hospice care and were experiencing clinically significant agitation.

The researchers, from Medical University of South Carolina and Georgetown University, found that there was a “statistically significant improvement” in scores on a standardized scale to systematically assess agitation among patients who received the cannabis medication as compared to the placebo group—measured at both two weeks into the trial and at the end of the full 12-week study.

Cannabis Use Soars Among Older Adults

"After week two, 84 percent of participants receiving THC and CBD improved, according to the caregiver-rated scale, compared to 31 percent of those who got the placebo. After the full trial, 87 percent of those who got the cannabis medication manufactured by MediPharm Labs saw improvement, as compared to 24 percent in the placebo group.

The results, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this month, suggest that the “THC/CBD combination used in the study may be an important therapeutic tool” for patients with agitation and Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, according to the abstract."

A combination of the ma*****na components THC and CBD leads to a significant and sustained reduction in agitation in the vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease of other forms of dementia, according to a new federally funded study. The placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involved a can...

07/12/2026

The latest update from the SDDOH on patient demographics. There is a lot of joy in seeing these show proof of concept of what we knew during petitioning and campaigning. The demographics for cannabis patients are 40+, with almost 2000 of them being 70+. Well, that is just incredible. That wins every argument that this program was for stoners and hippie kids.

Thank you to the 601 caregivers out there who are doing their part to help a loved one/loved ones. We appreciate you.

Have a great evening,
Mel

07/12/2026

Public Notice

Just want to clarify a few rumors being circulated. When we told you all a few weeks ago that making corrections to others who are speaking without understanding made us unpopular, we meant it. We wish people who wanted to break our backs were as skilled in competence as they are in the wasted confidence of their misinformation.

1. New Approach is NOT and will not change hands. Edited to remove the: will never be under new leadership. Clarification: We will be adding joining hands and working on shared goals with new partners. They will be their own leadership pillar with the ability to use our platform for education and events for patients. (With the amount of misinformation, this edit was logged for full transparency to everyone.) ( MM 7/11/26)
2. We are bringing in more sources and physicians, and updating our logo; that is not a rebrand or new leadership. That is an expansion of resources to help patients and widen our field for education.
3. New Approach has only sponsored cannabis patient issues.
4. New Approach operated as an open house for petition circulation from 2016-2018 and shared space with multiple campaigns.
5. New Approach ran IM26 during a Presidential Election alongside Amendment A, a completely separate campaign.
6. All cannabis issues AFTER 2020 were NOT sponsored by New Approach. We were not the campaign management, and we had 0 to do with those campaigns' finances. If people have questions about that, I suggest reaching out to South Dakotans for Better Ma*****na Laws, Ma*****na Policy Project & Grow SD for more information.
7. New Approach supporting another organization's efforts does NOT mean it is our effort, under our control, or that we had any management duties with that organization. It just means we support reform even when it isn't our work.
8. We are here to stay, even through Rescheduling. As promised until every patient has access. We will never waver on that promise.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask.

06/18/2026

Breaking News

" The Supreme Court sided Thursday with a Texas ma*****na user who wants to legally own a gun, the latest in a line of firearm cases from a court that has expanded gun rights.

The justices, in a unanimous decision, sided with Ali Danial Hemani, who argued that a law barring guns from anyone who uses drugs illegally violates the Second Amendment. Hemani wasn’t charged with any other crimes or accused of using the weapon under the influence."

The Supreme Court is siding with a Texas ma*****na user who wants to legally own a gun, the latest in a line of firearm cases from a court that has expanded gun rights.

06/05/2026

From our Colleagues over at Ma*****na Policy Project Ma*****na Policy Project comes this update on interstate commerce; we have been so lucky to call them partners with us in SD since 2019. They now have a new leadership structure, and we are thrilled to be working with Adam Smith on policy issues. This blog highlights a change that could change the way the industry across the nation works. Interstate commerce would be a life-changing opportunity for patients and operators. The ability to bring in patient favorites and export the brands in SD means big, meaningful changes that boost everyone in this space. We look forward to the potential expansion of SD products across the country and the opportunity to bring Tribal products into the open market.

All operators in the SD cannabis space welcome this opportunity and are looking forward to real guidance from the DEA and FDA.

Three important things to watch for with respect to interstate commerce in medical cannabis.

06/01/2026

From Beard Brothers
Schedule 3 is coming through the federal machine, but the real question is whether it helps cannabis, harms cannabis, or lands somewhere in the messy middle.
Join moderator Luna Stower and guests Amber Lengacher, Wanda James, and Mary Jane Oatman June 3rd at 10 am PT on the Beard Bros Media Network for Schedule 3: Harm or Help?, a live webinar breaking down what rescheduling could actually mean for operators, patients, investors, prisoners, and the communities that carried this industry long before legalization showed up with a name badge.
We’ll talk legal and policy impacts, business consequences, federal uncertainty, patient access, and the human cost that too often gets buried under tax codes and press releases. Bring your questions. We’ll be taking audience submissions live.
Register now: https://streamyard.com/watch/utuibhaFcy2C?utm_source=ap&utm_medium&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_gsmhyqjwbx&fbclid=IwY2xjawSJ-fdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYWjlNdkthZFFCV1ZyZGJwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhccdwQG6o2Mxaor_n9PLwr9OemL06aoORDTHbhs4dv2M36ccnHvSGUIlfoG_aem_JO8-SAlTjY9yRRWDaCJ8ug

Cannabis rescheduling is moving through the federal machine, but what does Schedule 3 actually mean for operators, patients, investors, prisoners, and the people who built this industry before it was safe or legal? Join moderator Luna Stower and her guests Amber Lengacher, Wanda James, and Mary Jane...